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Prime Minister Humza Yousaf said he had not spoken to his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon "for the past two weeks" as he rejected calls to suspend her and her husband from the SNP as part of the ongoing police investigation into the party's finances. . Mr Yousaf's comments came as the police investigation saw SNP treasurer Colin Beattie arrested and questioned by detectives. The arrest of Mr Beattie, 71, who is also the MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, comes less than two weeks after Ms Sturgeon's husband was arrested in connection with the same inquiry.
Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the SNP, was questioned by officers on Wednesday April 5 as officers searched the home the couple shares. He was later released without charge, pending further investigation.
Police Scotland investigated how more than £600,000 in party donations earmarked for an independence referendum had been used, but Yousaf said today he would not speak to his predecessor about the investigation.
One thing Nicola and I won't talk about is the police investigation. it would be totally inappropriate
The prime minister told reporters at Holyrood: "I haven't spoken to Nicola in the last two weeks, but I will be able to speak to Nicola, I'm sure.
"But one thing Nicola and I won't talk about is the police investigation. That would be totally inappropriate."
However, Scottish Conservative Vice-President Meghan Gallacher said Yousaf should "face this scandal head on and show that he is an independent man" by suspending both the former prime minister and her husband.
Speaking at Holyrood, Ms Gallacher said: 'The SNP is in the midst of a collapse.
“Its former managing director and now its current treasurer have been arrested as part of a police investigation into party finances.
"And the leaked images showed Nicola Sturgeon trying to finish the exam."
His comments came after Scottish Conservative Chairman Craig Hoy called for Beattie, Murrell and Sturgeon to be suspended from the SNP.
Mr Hoy said: 'This extremely serious matter is getting worse by the day and everyone in the SNP has a duty to be as transparent as possible about what they knew and when.
But Yousaf said it was "a really important point of natural law that people are presumed innocent until they are guilty."
He said he would investigate the situation if any charges were brought by the police, saying that if that were the case "we may have to take that course of action."
The Prime Minister said: “Of course, if they are guilty, I would take the appropriate measures, either a suspension or go further.
"But it's really important that due process takes place."
Earlier on Tuesday, Police Scotland confirmed that Mr Beattie had been arrested "in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party."
A report will be submitted to the Crown Office and the Prosecution Service, the force added.
An SNP spokesperson said: 'We have no comment on a live police investigation.
Mr Beattie was SNP National Treasurer from 2004-2020, losing the position to Douglas Chapman MP.
However, Chapman resigned from the job in 2021, saying he was not receiving the information required to get the job done.
Beattie won the job soon after, reportedly telling the party's governing body on Saturday that the SNP would have a hard time balancing the books, reports that have since been disputed by high-profile figures including the former Westminster leader. , Ian Blackford.
There was no sign of police activity outside Beattie's Dalkeith, Midlothian, address on Tuesday morning, or outside his constituency office in the city.
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said the SNP was in a "real mess".
During a visit to York University, he was asked about the arrest of Mr Beattie.
After 16 years in office, he has come to a head, a real disaster, and the ones disappointed are the Scottish voters, who deserve better than that.
Sir Keir told broadcasters: 'The developments in the SNP are very worrying.
"There's obviously a criminal investigation going on, so I can't say much.
"But after 16 years in office it has come to this, a real disaster, and the ones disappointed are the Scottish voters, who deserve better than that."
Meanwhile, Scottish Labor leader Anas Sarwar said news of the arrest meant the SNP was no longer a functioning government.
“This is an SNP mired in scandal, mired in division, speaking for itself, and the crisis that is now engulfing the SNP is not just an indication of how your party rules, but also how you rule our country.” .
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